Foot-operated toe kick kitchen stool and cabinet base

ABSTRACT

A cabinet base for supporting a cabinet, having a built-in step so that the user can reach the higher cabinets. The step is foot-operated, and no use of hands is necessary for its use. The step collapses into a drawer which is slid into the cabinet base.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed inProvisional Application Number 61/716,842, filed Oct. 22, 2012, entitled“AUTOMATIC FOOT-OPERATED TOE KICK KITCHEN STOOL AND CABINET BASE”. Thebenefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisionalapplication is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to the area of kitchen cabinetry. Moreparticularly, the invention pertains to a stool and cabinet base.

2. Description of Related Art

There is a need for people to reach items in kitchen cabinets that arehigher than they can reach from the floor, and in addition, there is aneed for children to be able to work comfortably at the counter or usethe sink.

Almost all kitchen cabinets are of a standard size, with a recessed toekick area that is between 3 ½ and 4 inches tall. In general, thecontractor installing the cabinets builds a base to support thecabinets, and that base makes up the toe kick and cabinet support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is meant to supplant a cabinet base, and to support thecabinet, as well as to provide a built-in step so that the user canreach the higher cabinets. The step is meant to be foot-operated, and nouse of hands is necessary for its use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows the cabinet base with the step in its stowed position.

FIG. 2 shows the cabinet base with the drawer extended, but prior to theautomatic extension of the step.

FIG. 3 shows the cabinet base with the drawer and the step extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is meant to supplant a cabinet base, and to support thecabinet, as well as to provide a built-in step so that the user canreach the higher cabinets. The step is meant to be foot-operated, and nouse of hands is necessary for its use.

FIG. 1 shows the cabinet base 1 with the step 2 in its stowed position.

The cabinet base 1 is made up of a cabinet base frame 3, which containsleveling feet 4. In one embodiment, the base frame 3 may be made of ametal framework. In another embodiment, the cabinet base frame 3 may bemade of wood.

A plywood panel covers the top of the framework shown in order tosupport the cabinet, and is not shown in the drawing so as to show themechanism.

A sliding drawer 5, which latches in the base 1 (in the stowedposition), and is released by the user kicking the toe kick 6 with hisor her foot. A spring 7 pushes the drawer 5 out once the latches arereleased.

In one embodiment, the drawer 5 will be guided by runners 8 or rubbingblocks on the sides, and will roll on rollers (not shown) on the bottom.The rollers may be mounted using a spring mechanism similar to that in alibrary stool, such that when a person is standing on the step, therollers spring up and the bottom of the drawer bears on the floor. Inanother embodiment, the drawer 5 will slide on conventional drawer-typeslides.

A telescoping step 9, which automatically extends on a lift mechanism upfrom the drawer 5 to a distance of approximately 8-10 inches from thefloor. In one embodiment, the step 9 telescopes using a scissor liftmechanism 10, and is pushed up to its extended position using gassprings or conventional springs (not shown). In another embodiment, thestep 9 will extend on telescoping extension struts.

A system of interconnected latch 11 and locking mechanisms (not shown)such that the drawer 5 extends automatically when the toe kick 6 iskicked inward by the user, and the step 9 extends up automatically oncethe drawer 5 has reached its fully extended position.

A release mechanism, to facilitate stowing the step 9 back into thetoe-kick of the cabinet. The user can press the release, press the step9 back down to its collapsed position, and then push the toe kick so asto stow the drawer 5 back into its stowed position.

A series of guards 12 to prevent the user (homeowner) from catching hisor her fingers in the mechanism 10.

FIG. 2 shows the cabinet base with the drawer 5 extended, but prior tothe automatic extension of the step 9. This intermediate position isreached during the extension procedure once the drawer 5 has extendedand before the step 9 is automatically extended, and is reached duringthe storage procedure once the user has released the catch 11 and pushedthe step 9 down with his or her foot.

FIG. 3 shows the cabinet base 1 with the drawer 5 and the step 9extended, so as to be in the position where the user can use the step 9to reach higher cabinets above.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theinvention herein described are merely illustrative of the application ofthe principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of theillustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of theclaims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential tothe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foot-operated toe kick stool and cabinet basecomprising: a) a cabinet base for supporting a cabinet, comprising: i) aframe; ii) a pair of slides mounted inside the frame; iii) leveling feetsupporting the frame upon a floor; iv) a top panel on top of the framefor supporting the cabinet; b) a drawer slideably mounted in the frame,comprising: i) a pair of drawer slides sliding on the slides of theframe; ii) a toe kick drawer front on an outer side of the drawer; iii)a latch for holding the drawer in the frame, the latch being releasableby a push on the toe kick drawer front; c) a retractable step mounted inthe drawer, comprising: i) a step; ii) a lift mechanism for raising thestep from a lowered position to a raised position, the lowered positionbeing such that the drawer may be slid within the frame when the step isin the lowered position; iii) a latch for holding the step in a raisedposition; iv) a latch release for releasing the latch, allowing the stepto pushed down to the lowered position.
 2. The stool and cabinet base ofclaim 1, in which the lift mechanism is a scissor lift.